Anger Management and Counseling in Riverdale Park, MD.

First I help the client to understand the purpose of their anger. There are usually feelings underneath, such as, hurt, sadness, feeling betrayed. Anger is a warning that something is wrong. We explore other ways to handle the issue without acting out the anger. Many people are impulsive and will need to change this habit to learn new ways to deal with their feelings. Groups can be very helpful. It is important to learn how acting out anger affects other people especially those you are close to.

Many people have quick tempers and are easily flooded with unhappy emotions. Using new information from neuroscience, we help people learn to observe and think about their own anger process, and then learn ways to re-evaluate and apply “antidote” thoughts to the angry ones. Conversely, many people carry resentment and grudges, and have a lively inner critic of themselves or others, but don’t know how to effectively request what they need and want. They may stew rather than share the needs for safety, control or connection which fuel the anger. Again, we help people follow the feelings, re-appraise them, and come up with a whole different set of actions and reactions. And then practice them in rea....

Do you find that you often react first and think later? Do you often feel ashamed of behaviors you may have performed due to feelings of anger or frustration? Do you feel as if no one listens to your concerns? Let's work on finding different ways to manage your feelings - - let's talk. Give therapy a try - - you deserve the opportunity to see things differently. Make it a good day - - be well. Give me a call for a free phone consult to discuss your concerns. 240.292.6127

Anger management can change the course of your life. When we learn how to manage our feelings, instead of our feelings managing us, we begin to grow in psychological maturity. The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life. I will assist you in understanding triggers, thought patterns, and developing alternative coping mechanisms to address difficult feelings. Your relationships and your life will thrive.

We all experience anger in our lives. I help clients develop healthy ways to experience and express their anger by: • Identifying effective ways to handle anger and express feelings; • Understanding how feelings such as fear, pride and inferiority feed anger; • Transforming negative patterns of thinking, relating and behaving that influence anger; • Learning ways to communicate, resolve conflicts and meet needs successfully; and • Developing a healthy lifestyle that supports a successful life. The constructive use of anger, assertiveness, helps express and preserve our needs, worth, and convictions while considering and respecting the needs and feelings of others.

I do not help clients to "manage" anger. I help them to understand its source and to use it productively rather than destructively. Sometimes it covers up some other feelings that need to be dealt with, and sometimes it is simply directed at the wrong person. By coming to understand your anger better you keep it from making problems and use it to find solutions.

I have run anger management programs for many years. I have an eight week program to assist clients to experience and express their anger and other feelings in ways that are healing. I have also provided couples with ways to communicate their anger so they feel heard and better understood. Often times people are feeling sad or hurt but can only feel safe with the feeling of anger. I will give you tools to express all your feeling to feel calmer and peaceful.

I am a Certified Anger Management Specialist trained by the National Anger Management Association. I work with men and women who have difficulty controlling their anger and rage at home or at work. I can help you become aware of your anger triggers and teach you calming techniques and conflict resolution skills. I will also help you learn assertive communication skills. I work with men and women who are court-referred as well as with those who would like to work on these issues with a trained anger management specialist.

I help clients develop strategies and techniques for managing intense anger or aggressive episodes. These techniques involve learning ways to “cool off” and validate underlying feelings so that they may be communicated more effectively. Generally speaking, difficulty with anger is typically the result of a person having difficulty regulating their emotions.Emotional Regulation is achieving a balanced emotional life where you are neither numbed out from your emotional experiences nor emotionally overwhelmed by them. Achieving emotional balance is done through both talk therapy as well as learning specific concrete strategies for managing your emotional experiences.

There is a lot in the world that can leave you feeling angry, especially right now! Anger is a natural human feeling, though people don't always know how to manage or what to do with it. Some find being angry can be scary or overwhelming, or gets in the way of more satisfying experiences. Working to better understand what makes you angry and any additional feelings (hurt, sadness, etc) can help you to better be able to advocate for what you need. In therapy, we will collaboratively come to better understand your anger and develop ways of approaching it that allows you to be heard.

How do you know if your anger is serious enough to need help? A quick answer is if you find that anger is your go-to, knee-jerk reaction to everyday irritants and disappointments, or if your anger is compromising your quality of life, it may be time to talk to someone. My way of working with angry clients is to both search for the causes of the anger as well as figure out concrete, common-sense ways for anger to be managed on a daily basis. Anger itself is not the problem; often it's the management (or mismanagement) of it that brings on a host of other problems. Maybe you have a right to be angry! But wouldn't it be better to be able to express that anger in a way others can really hear it?

Anger is a natural response to hurt and fear but it can cause more pain in our lives if we use it to hurt others, physically or emotionally. Anger that is destructive, usually comes from an old hurt that we are carrying within us. This hurt has been painfully touched by circumstances or by the actions of someone else. First we need to learn ways to stop our hurtful actions by taking a break or walking away. Then, however, we need to turn our attention to the underlying hurt and to bring compassion and care to our own hurt self. You will find that at the same time, you become more compassionate toward other people.

Anger is a natural emotional response and it emerges as a combination of thoughts, statements, physical reactions, and overall physical arousal. One goal of therapy is to use anger as a helpful and constructive tool in recognizing and establishing boundaries or advocating for your needs. Another goal is to reduce agitation, aggression, argumentativeness, and tension, by learning and practicing skills that help you improve interactions with others and develop healthy ways to communicate your emotions.